Chapter 102 Lin Ruhai returned to Beijing?
Daiyu had returned once before, but only for half a day, so she didn't have time to look around the courtyard properly.
This time, it was also Yang Mama's daughter-in-law, Liu Bao's wife, who was in charge of the courtyard, who led them on a detailed tour.
Although there are fewer scenic views in winter, Lin Ruhai and Jia Min, the couple, were both very cultured and had strong literary integrity, and this was especially true of their daughter, Lin Daiyu.
Therefore, the most abundant plants in this courtyard are not roses, peonies, and camellias, but plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums; these four plants can be seen almost everywhere.
Just now, in that warm room, there were two pots of green chrysanthemums and an orchid on the table. In this kind of weather, it's quite common for chrysanthemums to bloom despite the cold. But the fact that the orchid was also blooming was quite rare.
Once inside the courtyard, looking at the sparse, slanting plum blossoms, some of which had already begun to bloom, their delicate fragrance was both cool and refreshing.
Although no one from the Lin family has lived here in recent years, the courtyard has been kept very well.
Grandmother Jia praised Liu Bao's wife.
Liu Bao's family smiled.
“Grandma, this courtyard wasn’t like this a year ago. Back then, there were only five people in our house. They were too busy just guarding the houses to have the energy to take care of the courtyard.”
Grandmother Jia recalled that many years ago, when Min'er took her for a stroll in the courtyard, the scenery did indeed seem different from what it was now.
However, half of it remains the same as before.
"You only started repairing this after you came back? No wonder it took almost a year to repair. With so much going on, it really did take a year!" Wang Xifeng exclaimed in admiration.
"This courtyard belongs to our young lady. She took the old house drawings from the master and spent many days revising them with Granny Yuan. Then she sent someone with the drawings to repair it," Liu Bao's wife said with pride.
"My sister is so talented! Next time we renovate our courtyard, please ask her to draw one for us too," Wang Xifeng praised.
"I wouldn't dare. I can do whatever I want in my own home. Even if it doesn't look good, it's my own doing, so I can tolerate it... If I draw something bad for you, I'm sure many people will curse me behind my back. Sister Feng, you should ask someone else for this." Lin Daiyu declined with a smile.
"Lin Daiyu's aesthetic sense is simply superb. I simply don't believe that your drawing will be bad! Even if it's not good, it's still better than others'. Don't worry, I won't skimp on your fee."
"Sister Feng, please stop teasing me. You should really go find my Granny Yuan. She drew most of the pictures for the courtyard. I only came up with ideas. Granny Yuan turned those ideas into pictures, and then they turned those pictures into reality," Lin Daiyu said, pointing to Liu Bao's wife.
"Speaking of Granny Yuan, why haven't we seen her since we got off the carriage?" Grandmother Jia looked around and indeed hadn't seen Yuan Hongqu for a while.
Did Daiyu start to slack off as soon as she returned home?
That won't do. If she slacks off, I'll take Daiyu back to the Rongguo Mansion in no time!
"Grandmother, Granny Yuan is in the kitchen. The chef who cooks Yangzhou cuisine is on holiday today, so Granny Yuan is in the kitchen looking after things by herself!"
When Yuan Hongqu left, she had someone tell Daiyu about it, so when Daiyu said it, no one doubted that it was wrong.
Yuan Hongqu was indeed in the kitchen, and she was indeed cooking.
However, she was not in the Lin family's kitchen, nor was she cooking for Daiyu.
Crab roe tofu, water bamboo shoots in chicken broth, crispy fried chicken, sweet and sour pork ribs, soft-shelled eel, braised lion's head meatballs...
She chopped and slashed furiously, venting her anger.
She never expected that the first thing she would do upon returning to the Lin family would not be to help Daiyu get acquainted with the Lin family, but rather to be invited to the Taoist temple to cook.
Yuan Hongqu was utterly speechless.
As soon as they alighted from the carriage, someone quickly approached Yuan Hongqu and whispered a sentence to her.
Master Lin invited Mr. Yuan to Kongyun Temple, as he had an urgent matter to ask for Mr. Yuan's help.
Yuan Hongqu was startled upon hearing this.
Didn't they just send word that they were coming to the capital? How come they're here already?
Yuan Hongqu didn't want to go. She was just Daiyu's governess, and the Lin family made her manage everything. She didn't have that much free time!
"Mr. Yuan, the master is unwell," the man said quickly, glancing at Daiyu.
Yuan Hongqu looked at Daiyu, who was smiling and supporting Grandmother Jia. Her face remained calm, but her heart was churning with turmoil.
Could it be that Lin Ruhai's short life was due to this trip to the capital?
If Lin Ruhai had died early, Daiyu would have been left an orphan again. Even with her own protection, she might never have been as carefree as she is now.
Forget it, I'll just consider it an obligation I owed the Lin family in my past life!
Yuan Hongqu asked Xueyan to pass on a message to Daiyu, and then went to the kitchen to give some instructions to Yang Mama before leaving through the back door of the Lin family.
There was no one at the back gate of the Lin family. She walked forward for several dozen meters when a carriage came from behind her. When it reached her, it slowed down. Yuan Hongqu jumped into the carriage before it stopped.
Inside the carriage was the servant who had spoken to her at the Lin family earlier. Now, the servant had shed his disguise; this was Lan Cong, Lin Ruhai's personal attendant, who usually guarded Lin Ruhai's side.
His presence here certainly indicates that Lin Ruhai is also in the capital.
However, this section is not in the original book. Lin Ruhai never returned to the capital before his death, but died in office.
He had just made up a lie, saying that Lin Ruhai was going back to Beijing to report on his work, and Lin Ruhai actually did go back to Beijing to report on his work?
Lan Cong has delicate features, but he has a cool and aloof demeanor. Once you take off his disguise, he looks cold and unapproachable. It's such a waste of his good looks!
Yuan Hongqu wasn't exactly the type to be overly familiar with others either, which is something the two of them were somewhat similar about.
Finally, she spoke first, "How did Lord Lin come to the capital? Miss, you've been longing to see him so much, why don't you go home?"
"I can't go back, it would cause trouble for the young lady," Lan Cong replied, without uttering a single unnecessary word.
"What danger is Lord Lin's life in? What good would it do for me to go? Is he going to give me his last words, or entrust his children to me?" Yuan Hongqu said viciously.
She felt a bit annoyed after hearing Lan Cong's words. "I only came because you said Lin Ruhai's life was in danger, but you didn't say a word. I have to ask you everything myself."
Hmph, then I'll ask you some questions you don't want to hear.
Lan Cong was completely obedient to Lin Ruhai; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him Lin Ruhai's loyal follower. Yuan Hongqu naturally knew what to say to provoke him into speaking.
"Mr. Yuan, don't talk nonsense! Lord Lin won't die!" Lan Cong's forehead veins bulged as he suppressed his anger. If anyone else had said that, he would have already taken action.
But this is Mr. Yuan. The master specifically instructed that Mr. Yuan should be treated the same way as he was treated.
I'll endure it!
"Oh, so you lied to me?" Yuan Hongqu squinted, her voice low.
"I wouldn't dare to lie to Mr. Yuan. It was Master who instructed me to say this," Lan Cong hurriedly replied.
"Hmph, then you'd better tell me, what exactly is Lord Lin's current situation?"
"Mr. Yuan, we are almost there. I cannot say more now, but you will see when you arrive."
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